The annual Costume Institute Gala (otherwise known as the Met Gala) is the Super Bowl of fashion.
Each year has a theme, which may be inspired by a designer (i.e. Alexander McQueen), style (i.e. punk or camp) or theme (religion, technology).
This year’s theme is Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty, celebrating the late German designer and creative director of Chanel. Chanel is known for its more traditional looks, but there are always risk-takers and rule-breakers on the red carpet.
The gala serves as the benefit of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute and only the biggest names in entertainment and fashion are invited.
Check out 28 outrageous outfits from Met Gala’s past.
Miley Cyrus
2013 Met Gala – Punk: Chaos to Couture
Miley Cyrus certainly looked punk with her spikey ‘do and netted Marc Jacobs gown back in 2013.
Kanye West
2016 Met Gala – Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology
The rapper wore ice-blue eye and a silvery jacket that matched then-wife Kim Kardashian’s dress. We’re not sure about the ripped denim — perhaps a message about recycling fashion.
Cardi B
2018 Met Gala – Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination
In 2018, Cardi, who was pregnant at the time, wore a bejeweled Moschino creation with matching headpiece.
Sarah Jessica Parker and Andy Cohen
2018 Met Gala – Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination
SJP wore a gilded gold Dolce & Gabanna gown. Her golden headpiece featured a nativity scene.
Rihanna
2018 Met Gala – Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination
Rihanna leaned hard into the Catholic theme wearing a Margiela dress and robe with matching papal miter.
Kim Kardashian
2019 Met Gala – Camp: Notes on Fashion
Kim Kardashian arrived looking dripping wet in a latex Mugler gown with beads that resembled water droplets.
Celine Dion
2019 Met Gala – Camp: Notes on Fashion
Only a true diva like Celine Dion could pull off this magnificent oversized headpiece.
Jared Leto
2019 Met Gala – Camp: Notes on Fashion
Jared Leto arrived in Gucci carrying a replica of his head, a nod to the design house’s 2018 runway show where the opening model carried a copy of her head down the runway.
Billy Porter
2019 Met Gala – Camp: Notes on Fashion
Billy Porter was carried into the 2019 Met Gala by a multitude of men, and later spread his arms to reveal golden wings.
Travis Scott and Kylie Jenner
2019 Met Gala – Camp: Notes on Fashion
Who says couples have to match? Travis wore military-inspired Dior, while Kylie wore a lavender mermaid gown with oversized feathered sleeves and train. And a purple wig, of course.
Ezra Miller
2019 Met Gala – Camp: Notes on Fashion
All eyes were on Miller, literally. The actor applied additional pairs of eyes to his face, which was initially hidden behind a mask.
Zendaya
2019 Met Gala – Camp: Notes on Fashion
Zendaya’s dress was more Disney princess than camp. Her Cinderella dress actually lit up when stylist/fairy godmother Law Roach waved his wand.
Katy Perry
2019 Met Gala – Camp: Notes on Fashion
Sia may have sung the song “Chandelier,” but Katy Perry wore one back in 2019.
Lupita Nyong’o
2019 Met Gala – Camp: Notes on Fashion
Lupita Nyong’o fully embraced the camp theme with rainbow ruffles and golden pick combs in her hair.
A$AP Rocky and Rihanna
2021 Met Gala: In America: A Lexicon of Fashion
A$AP’s colorful quilted jacket actually matched the exhibit that year, where display cases resembled patches on a quilt.
Demna Gvasalia and Kim Kardashian
2021 Met Gala: In America: A Lexicon of Fashion
Many thought it was Kim’s ex-husband Kanye West behind the ultra-minimalist head-to-toe black cover-up, but it was actually Balenciaga creative director Demna Gvasalia.
Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner
2021 Met Gala – In America: An Anthology of Fashion
Joe Jonas’ suit was a mishmash, while wife Sophie Turner looks like a modern Sansa Stark in all black.
Lil Nas X
2021 Met Gala – In America: An Anthology of Fashion
Lil Nas X turned heads after throwing a golden cape and revealing this look.
Dan Levy
2021 Met Gala – In America: An Anthology of Fashion
While his “Schitt’s Creek” character wouldn’t be caught in anything but black and white, Dan Levy wore this colorful creation.
Frank Ocean
2021 Met Gala – In America: An Anthology of Fashion
And in the vein of men carrying strange accessories to their outfits, Frank Ocean showed up to the 2021 Met Gala with this animatronic green baby.
Kim Petras
2021 Met Gala – In America: An Anthology of Fashion
No horsing around here. The singer’s equine-inspired costume, complete with super long extensions, may have been a nod to America’s ranch past.
Kylie Jenner
2022 Met Gala – 2022 Met Gala – In America: An Anthology of Fashion
Jenner paid homage to late designer Virgil Abloh in this white wedding dress with a veil sewn into a baseball cap.
Jennifer Lopez
2021 Met Gala – In America: An Anthology of Fashion
This look was a major departure for JLo. Her custom Ralph Lauren was a nod to the Wild West and Najavo Nation.
Megan Fox
2021 Met Gala – In America: An Anthology of Fashion
Fox is known for her sultry look, which was intensified by these bold bangs and bound bodice.
Blake Lively
2022 Met Gala – In America: An Anthology of Fashion
Blake Lively wore a rose Atelier gown inspired by the Empire State Building. As she ascended the museum stairs, her bow was unraveled to reveal a turquoise train inspired by the constellations at Grand Central Station.
Bad Bunny
2022 Met Gala – In America: An Anthology of Fashion
Bad Bunny wore what could only be described as a trenchcoat dress to the 2022 event.
Dove Cameron
2022 Met Gala – In America: An Anthology of Fashion
Dove Cameron didn’t have to worry about social distancing in this structured style that literally kept everyone at arm’s length.
Cara Delevingne
2022 Met Gala – In America: An Anthology of Fashion
Cara Delevingne wore gold body paint but left her elbows uncovered to show off her psoriasis, a skin condition.
Lil Nas X
2023 Met Gala – Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty
The rapper showed up and showed out covered in silver body paint and jewels, and whenever press tried to interviewed him, he meowed.
Doja Cat
2023 Met Gala – Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty
Several Lagerfeld attendees paid homage to his cat Choupette, and who better to do so than Doja Cat herself?
Janelle Monae
2023 Met Gala – Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty
The musician went through several costume changes with their transformer dress.
Alton Mason
2023 Met Gala – Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty
The male model donned white lace and a veil.
Pedro Pascal
2023 Met Gala – Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty
Pedro Pascal stood out among the many black and white looks with this bold red one, and he showed off some leg in his shorts.
Kendall Jenner
2023 Met Gala – Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty
The model showed off legs for days in her classic black and white leotard with no pants and high pump boots. Her long sleeaves trailed her like wings.
Jared Leto
2023 Met Gala – Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty
Jared Leto also honored Lagerfeld’s cat with a full body costume, removing the head to reveal it was him. He wore blue eye shadow to match Choupette’s eye shade.
